Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies

Abstract Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is approved for HER2-low (HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC)1+ or 2+ with non-amplified in situ hybridization (ISH)), but not HER2-0 (IHC 0) metastatic breast cancer. The impact of repeat biopsies (Bxs) in identifying new potential candidates with triple negative...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yael Bar, Geoffrey Fell, Aylin Dedeoglu, Natalie Moffett, Neelima Vidula, Laura Spring, Seth A. Wander, Aditya Bardia, Naomi Ko, Beverly Moy, Leif W. Ellisen, Steven J. Isakoff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Breast Cancer
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00741-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850039774382915584
author Yael Bar
Geoffrey Fell
Aylin Dedeoglu
Natalie Moffett
Neelima Vidula
Laura Spring
Seth A. Wander
Aditya Bardia
Naomi Ko
Beverly Moy
Leif W. Ellisen
Steven J. Isakoff
author_facet Yael Bar
Geoffrey Fell
Aylin Dedeoglu
Natalie Moffett
Neelima Vidula
Laura Spring
Seth A. Wander
Aditya Bardia
Naomi Ko
Beverly Moy
Leif W. Ellisen
Steven J. Isakoff
author_sort Yael Bar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is approved for HER2-low (HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC)1+ or 2+ with non-amplified in situ hybridization (ISH)), but not HER2-0 (IHC 0) metastatic breast cancer. The impact of repeat biopsies (Bxs) in identifying new potential candidates with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) for T-DXd treatment remains unknown. 512 consecutive patients with TNBC at diagnosis were included in the study cohort. Bxs were categorized as core, surgical, or metastatic based on the timing and method of biopsy (Bx) acquisition, and the total number of Bxs was determined for each patient. Additionally, matched biopsies were identified, and the rate of discordance in HER2 status was calculated. The proportion of patients with at least one HER2-low result increased as the number of successive Bxs increased [59%, 73%, 83%, 83%, and 100% when 1 (196 patients), 2 (231 patients), 3 (48 patients), 4 (29 patients), and ≥ 5 (8 patients) Bxs were obtained, respectively]. Among patients without a prior HER2-low result, approximately one-third demonstrated HER2-low status with each additional successive Bx. HER2 status exhibited variability between matched Bxs, with observed discordance rates of 26%, 44%, and 33% between matched core-surgical, early-metastatic, and two metastatic matched Bxs, respectively. Our findings indicate that HER2 status can vary between different Bxs taken during the disease course of patients with TNBC with the highest discordance rate observed between the primary and metastatic Bxs. For patients with metastastic HER2-0 TNBC, repeat Bxs can increase the chance of obtaining a HER2-low result, thereby offering patients a promising therapeutic option.
format Article
id doaj-art-b33b93aecba74dd4af4a862ae36be7e8
institution DOAJ
issn 2374-4677
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Breast Cancer
spelling doaj-art-b33b93aecba74dd4af4a862ae36be7e82025-08-20T02:56:15ZengNature Portfolionpj Breast Cancer2374-46772025-03-011111810.1038/s41523-025-00741-yDynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsiesYael Bar0Geoffrey Fell1Aylin Dedeoglu2Natalie Moffett3Neelima Vidula4Laura Spring5Seth A. Wander6Aditya Bardia7Naomi Ko8Beverly Moy9Leif W. Ellisen10Steven J. Isakoff11Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterSection of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of MedicineMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterMassachusetts General Hospital Cancer CenterAbstract Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is approved for HER2-low (HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC)1+ or 2+ with non-amplified in situ hybridization (ISH)), but not HER2-0 (IHC 0) metastatic breast cancer. The impact of repeat biopsies (Bxs) in identifying new potential candidates with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) for T-DXd treatment remains unknown. 512 consecutive patients with TNBC at diagnosis were included in the study cohort. Bxs were categorized as core, surgical, or metastatic based on the timing and method of biopsy (Bx) acquisition, and the total number of Bxs was determined for each patient. Additionally, matched biopsies were identified, and the rate of discordance in HER2 status was calculated. The proportion of patients with at least one HER2-low result increased as the number of successive Bxs increased [59%, 73%, 83%, 83%, and 100% when 1 (196 patients), 2 (231 patients), 3 (48 patients), 4 (29 patients), and ≥ 5 (8 patients) Bxs were obtained, respectively]. Among patients without a prior HER2-low result, approximately one-third demonstrated HER2-low status with each additional successive Bx. HER2 status exhibited variability between matched Bxs, with observed discordance rates of 26%, 44%, and 33% between matched core-surgical, early-metastatic, and two metastatic matched Bxs, respectively. Our findings indicate that HER2 status can vary between different Bxs taken during the disease course of patients with TNBC with the highest discordance rate observed between the primary and metastatic Bxs. For patients with metastastic HER2-0 TNBC, repeat Bxs can increase the chance of obtaining a HER2-low result, thereby offering patients a promising therapeutic option.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00741-y
spellingShingle Yael Bar
Geoffrey Fell
Aylin Dedeoglu
Natalie Moffett
Neelima Vidula
Laura Spring
Seth A. Wander
Aditya Bardia
Naomi Ko
Beverly Moy
Leif W. Ellisen
Steven J. Isakoff
Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
npj Breast Cancer
title Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
title_full Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
title_fullStr Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
title_short Dynamic HER2-low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the impact of repeat biopsies
title_sort dynamic her2 low status among patients with triple negative breast cancer tnbc and the impact of repeat biopsies
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00741-y
work_keys_str_mv AT yaelbar dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT geoffreyfell dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT aylindedeoglu dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT nataliemoffett dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT neelimavidula dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT lauraspring dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT sethawander dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT adityabardia dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT naomiko dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT beverlymoy dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT leifwellisen dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies
AT stevenjisakoff dynamicher2lowstatusamongpatientswithtriplenegativebreastcancertnbcandtheimpactofrepeatbiopsies